Elvis Presley Cake

Indulge in a sweet slice of nostalgia with this easy and delicious Elvis Presley Cake, a dessert fit for the King himself! Whether you’re hosting a retro-themed party or just craving something sweet with a rock ‘n’ roll twist, this cake is the perfect way to channel a little bit of Graceland magic right into your kitchen.

What’s the Story Behind Elvis Presley Cake?

This Elvis Presley Cake is based on a dessert that’s widely believed to have been one of Elvis’s favorites, or at the very least, inspired by his well-known food preferences. Elvis was famously fond of rich, indulgent foods like fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, decadent Southern-style pies, and downhome desserts, so the flavors in this cake line up with his legendary taste. While there’s no official record of Elvis eating this exact cake, the recipe is often associated with him because it features:

• Pineapple and crushed fruit topping – which reflects the Southern and tropical flavors Elvis enjoyed.
• A moist yellow or white cake base – a classic Southern comfort food staple.
• It’s topped with a cream cheese frosting and pecans, all flavors Elvis was known to like.

That said, the cake itself became popular after his death and is more of a tribute dessert than a confirmed favorite from his actual menu. It’s a fan favorite for those wanting to celebrate “The King” with something sweet and nostalgic.

Ingredients to Make Elvis Presley Cake Recipe

Prepare to be delighted with a tasty trip down memory lane with this easy and irresistibly delicious Elvis Presley Cake. Inspired by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll himself, this dessert is packed with old-school charm and rich, comforting flavors. Ingredients you’ll need to make an Elvis Presley Cake: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

• Cake Mix – One box of yellow cake mix or butter cake mix forms the base of the cake.
• Flour – 1/2 cup of all purpose flour adds volume to the cake mix. (They continue to shrink in volume!)
• Pudding Mix – Instant vanilla pudding mix gives the batter a creamy texture.
• Liquid – Buttermilk adds moisture to the dry ingredients. You can also use whole milk.
• Butter – Melted salted butter for richness.
• Whole Eggs – Large eggs stabilize the cake batter.
• Pineapple Filling – One large can of crushed pineapple (don’t drain) and granulated sugar for the tropical filling.
• Frosting – Two 8 ounce packages cream cheese, salted butter, powdered sugar (confectioner’s sugar) and vanilla extract.
• Topping – Toasted chopped pecans add crunch.
• Garnishes – Maraschino cherries add a pop of color, but they are optional.

How to Make the BEST Elvis Presley Cake Recipe

• Heat Oven and Toast Pecans – Spread the pecans on a sheet pan in a single layer. Toast just until fragrant and lightly golden. Set aside to cool.
• Prepare Cake Pan – Spray a 13×9-inch cake pan with nonstick baking spray.
• Make the Cake Batter – Use an electric mixer on medium-high speed to beat together the cake mix, pudding mix, flour, buttermilk, melted butter and eggs until fully combined.
• Transfer to the Prepared Pan – Pour evenly into pan. Bake per the recipe.
• Poke Holes in the Cake – Use the handle of a wooden spoon or a fork to poke holes all over the cake.
• Make Pineapple Mixture – Meanwhile, bring pineapple with juices and sugar to a boil in a small saucepan, stirring occasionally. Boil just until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 2-3 minutes.
• Soak the Cake – Spoon pineapple mixture evenly over the cake. Let the cake cool completely in the pan.
• Cream Cheese Frosting – In a large bowl use an electric mixer to cream together the cream cheese and butter with powdered sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy. Frost the top of the cake.
• Garnish – Sprinkle with toasted pecans and decorated with maraschino cherries, if desired.

Kitchen Equipment You’ll Need to Make Elvis Cake

• Stand mixer or hand mixer for making the cake batter and the cream cheese frosting.
• Measuring cups and spoons for accurate measurements.
• 13×9-inch cake pan or baking dish.
• Offset spatula for spreading the frosting.
• Nut chopper for the pecans.
• Small saucepan for making the pineapple filling.

Recipe Variations and Substitutions

• Frosting: You can frost the top of the cake with whipped cream in place of cream cheese icing. You can use 4 cups of fresh whipped cream or use 16 ounces of frozen whipped topping i.e. Cool Whip or similar.
• Pecans: The pecans can be replaced with toasted walnuts.
• Cake Mix Flavors: You can use a butter cake mix, white cake mix, pineapple cake mix or a yellow cake mix. Regardless, you still need to add the flour to expand the amount of batter.
• How to Make Homemade Buttermilk: To make your own buttermilk, to each one cup of whole milk add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Allow the milk to stand for 5-10 minutes then stir and proceed with the recipe.
• Homemade Yellow Cake: If you’d like to make your own cake from scratch, you can! Checkout my recipe for Old Fashioned Butter Cake here.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Store leftover Elvis Presley Cake covered with plastic wrap or aluminum foil or transfer to an airtight container, chilled in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: You can store leftovers in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge and enjoy!

More Easy Cake Recipes to Make

• My Easy Strawberry Layer Cake is stunning piled high with fresh strawberries.
• Pig Pickin’ Cake is sure to be a conversation starter!
• German Chocolate Cake is classic and this recipe our favorite when made with the Coconut Pecan Frosting my way.
• My recipe for Banana Pudding Layer Cake is a showstopper.
• Chocolate Sour Cream Pound Cake is made in a loaf pan.
• Another iconic Southern flavor is red velvet. You won’t want o miss out on impressing your friends and family with my Red Velvet Layer Cake recipe.
• Million Dollar Pound Cake recipe is always a winning choice.
• How to Make Cake Pops from The First Year.

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Helpful Kitchen Items:

• Stand Mixer
• Icing Spatulas
• Measuring Set
• 13×9-inch Pan